(Rika)in fact, I just went to see it again last Thursday. Ok! Lemme see, how many does that make? MVP award may have to change hands;-) Do I hear Linda packing bags to take a room in Annapolis?

No, that's just 13 for me. Linda is still the WAGW Queen, as far as I know anyway, with 15.

Canvas to page to film A celebrated painting so moved Tracy Chevalier that she wrote a novel about its subject By GAYLE MacDONALD From Wednesday's Globe and Mail Before she put pen to paper, author Tracy Chevalier sat quietly with the Girl with a Pearl Earring -- often called the Dutch Mona Lisa -- in the Mauritshuis section of The Hague. ''It's in a small room, and is hung looking across at View of Delft," remembers the 40-year-old writer. "My eyes were like ping-pong balls, darting frantically back and forth from painting to painting. I found it very hard to leave the room." Chevalier -- whose eponymous novel was inspired by Girl with a Pearl Earring by the Flemish painter Johannes Vermeer -- recalls sitting for hours in the museum, assessing the portrait of the 17th-Century unknown girl/woman. Years before, Chevalier had bought a poster of the famed art work. And for the better part of a decade the author says she was bemused and bewildered by Vermeer's enigmatic subject. Was she 12? Or 22? Where did she come from? What would she do with her life? Why was the girl, turned three-quarters around, looking at the painter in that way, tempting on one hand, but also timid. It was these questions that motivated Chevalier to write Girl with a Pearl Earring. A book that Chevalier says she knew was "half-decent" when she was finished writing the final chapter in the fall of 1998. But never dreamed would take off, largely through word-of-mouth, to sell more than 2-million copies. In November, Chevalier's novel becomes a film, starring the British actor Colin Firth (Bridget Jones Diary, Shakespeare in Love) as Vermeer and Hollywood newcomer Scarlett Johansson (The Horse Whisperer, An American Rhapsody) as the mysterious "girl," whom Chevalier named Griet, and fictionalized as a maid who worked for the painter, and eventually became his muse. "Even after all that time in the museum, I felt I didn't get enough of her. I couldn't get her," says Chevalier, who was recently at the Banff Television Festival to talk about her experience transitioning a novel into a screenplay. 'I couldn't get her. It's like an itch that can't be scratched. The expression on the girl's face is a very ambiguous one. It's impossible to pin down what she's thinking. I couldn't get the thought out of my head that she had a lot of growing up to do. So as much as anything else, I guess my book -- and the upcoming film -- is a coming-of-age story." It's a brilliant morning in a coffee shop on the main street of Banff, and Chevalier, a little bleary-eyed, admits it's now more than five years since she wrote Griet's story, but she still does not tire of speaking about her. She and her husband, a BBC veteran for 20 years, had arrived in the Rockies from London the night before. Their four-year-old son, still on British time, had risen at 4:30 a.m. "So we went for a walk, looking for bears and elk," says the author, somewhat ruefully. "We didn't find any." Her husband, now a television consultant, comes to the Banff TV fest each year. Chevalier tagged along because she was invited to host a master class along with Olivia Hetreed, the woman who wrote the script for the film, produced by Archer Street Productions, and to be distributed by Vancouver's Lions Gate Films. Chevalier, dressed in a wrinkled white t-shirt and tweedy jacket, readily admits she was nervous about letting her book go into the hands of a screenwriter. (This is Hetreed's first feature film, after years of writing television scripts such as the 1997 British telefilm, The Canterville Ghost). But she finally settled on Hertreed and the Archer Street folks because they were un-Hollywood and promised to stick to the "emotional truth" of the novel. "Every writer dreams about their book being made into a film. I had hopes for this because it's a very visual story, but I was also very nervous and somewhat ambivalent because so many books that become movies fall flat," adds Chevalier. Shot last November in Luxembourg, the film was originally to star Ralph Fiennes and Kate Hudson. Kirsten Dunst was also reportedly interested in the role, but all fell through because of a lack of financing. As the book took off, the money for the film eventually firmed up. Chevalier says she's ecstatic with the actors who are playing the leading roles, adding that Griet is a tough character to play since her role actually has very little dialogue. "It's a very visual book, and a very visual film," the writer says. "Griet does a lot of watching, and very little talking. Scarlett plays it perfectly." At the Banff session, Hetreed described the film as a domestic thriller. The first-time director Peter Webber calls it a movie about painting. But with a twist. "It's also about money and sex and obsession and power and repression watching people who want to shag each other's brains out and not being able to," he said recently. "That's much more interesting than seeing people do it." Chevalier agrees, adding that it was intriguing to watch the actors inhabit her characters, and give them a life of their own. "Colin and Scarlett are very different from each other in how they approached their roles. Colin became a complete Vermeer egghead. He travelled all over Europe to see Vermeer's paintings. He took painting lessons and learned how to make his own brushes and grind his own paint. He was very engaged in the script." Very little is known of Vermeer, who died at 43, bankrupt, and leaving behind a wife, 11 children and 35 paintings. Chevalier says Firth, 42, read everything he could lay his hands on about the artist. "And I thought, yes!" Because he became obsessive in a way that I believe Vermeer would have been obsessive about his paintings. Thankfully, Johansson, who was sporting a mullet at the time the movie was shot, hid that hairstyle under the servant's headscarf. Chevalier grew up in Washington, and started writing short stories in her 20s, at night and on weekends when she was working as an editor in London. To date, Chevalier has written four novels. Her first was The Virgin Blue, then Girl with a Pearl Earring and Falling Angels, She has just finished a novel about a series of six tapestries called the Lady and the Unicorn, made near the end of the 15th-Century, which now hang in the Museum of the Middle Ages (the Cluny Museum) in Paris. "I can't seem to write a contemporary novel I suppose I'm more comfortable in the past, where I know what is important and lasting. If I write about today, I worry that it will date in 10 years' time." Girl with a Pearl Earring, she recalls, was her fastest book, and perhaps the easiest to write. She started it in February, 1998, and finished the following October, working full-time. "Two weeks later I had my son. There's nothing like a fixed biological deadline to focus the mind! I don't think I'll ever write anything so quickly again." When she wrote this book, Chevalier bought some linseed oil (mixed with pigment to make paint) and "left the bottle open as I was writing so that I could smell what they would have smelled." These days, Chevalier says she tries to put the success of Girl with a Pearl Earring out of her head when she writes. "If I thought about it much I'd be paralyzed with the fear of everyone's expectations of me," says Chevalier. "I still feel like a novice. Sometimes I read what I've just written and think, Yuck. Each book is just as hard to write as the previous. I might have a good writing day, but the next day I still have to face the blank sheet of paper. It's a painful process but I wouldn't trade it for anything. Its kind of like running you feel terrible for those first 10 minutes but then it gets better and afterwards you feel great."

"It's also about money and sex and obsession and power and repression watching people who want to shag each other's brains out and not being able to," LOL, there's the attraction for ODB! Sounds like P&P2. Can't wait to see all this frustration on screen. ;-)

Oops, got so caught up in all that "repression watching people who want to shag each other's brains out and not being able to", I forgot the rest of my post. Chevalier says she's ecstatic with the actors who are playing the leading roles (...) Griet does a lot of watching, and very little talking. Scarlett plays it perfectly (...) It may have been said before so please forgive the repeat. Casting for the leads is on the money. SJ did a great job in An American Rhapsody and the Horse Whisperer. She'll be wonderful as Griet and will hold her own next to ODB and TW. Thanks for the insightful article, Mari.

(Sonia)Thanks for the insightful article, Mari. I agree... great article. This makes me even more hopeful about GWAPE.

"He travelled all over Europe to see Vermeer's paintings. He took painting lessons and learned how to make his own brushes and grind his own paint. He was very engaged in the script." Doing the Rafe bit....at last a meaty subject. "Dump the fluff, Colin."

adding that Griet is a tough character to play since her role actually has very little dialogue. Wot?! And Vermeer is a chatterbox? Didn't someone here count how many words he said in the book? *snort* The first-time director Peter Webber calls it a movie about painting. But with a twist. "It's also about money and sex and obsession and power and repression watching people who want to shag each other's brains out and not being able to," he said recently. "That's much more interesting than seeing people do it." I can see where Colin and Webber would get on famously. ;-D Thanks Mari.

Thanks Mari! Great article. "Griet does a lot of watching, and very little talking. Scarlett plays it perfectly." I thought she did great non-verbal acting in Horse Whisperer. Chevalier says Firth, 42, read everything he could lay his hands on about the artist. "And I thought, yes!" Because he became obsessive in a way that I believe Vermeer would have been obsessive about his paintings. Oooo, good sign I think. She seemed reticent in a past post. ....he became obsessive....... Us too!

"It's also about money and sex and obsession and power and repression watching people who want to shag each other's brains out and not being able to," he said recently. "That's much more interesting than seeing people do it." (Karen), I can see where Colin and Webber would get on famously. ;-D ROTF, Karen! Now we know what Colin did on his summer vacation. ;-) Colin and Scarlett are very different from each other in how they approached their roles. Hmmm. Thanks, Mari!

"Griet does a lot of watching, and very little talking. Scarlett plays it perfectly." (Beedee) I thought she did great non-verbal acting in Horse Whisperer. I never saw The Horse Whisperer, but thought SJ was outstanding in 'Ghost World' and 'The Man Who Wasn't There'. She is a very 'still' actress in those two films. Something I saw in Griet when I read the book. When I heard she was cast, I thought it was a perfect choice (cannot imagine Kate Hudson or Kirsten Dunst in the part, though I think they are both fine actresses). Was intruged by this mullet talk....found a pic. Actually not as scary as I imagined...LOL....wow....I just said that about a mullet. But to be fair, it is more Mrs. Brady shag than John Taylor mullet.....I guess that is just as bad.....;-) Thanks for the article Mari!

Mari, thanks for the article. How encouraging to read that the author is pleased with the film and with the actors and script in particular. Ooof, more of that 6'1" of repressed sexuality. Bring it on! ;-) Colin became a complete Vermeer egghead. He travelled all over Europe to see Vermeer's paintings. He took painting lessons and learned how to make his own brushes and grind his own paint. He was very engaged in the script." Firth, 42, read everything he could lay his hands on about the artist. "And I thought, yes!" Because he became obsessive in a way that I believe Vermeer would have been obsessive about his paintings. Hurrah for obsessive eggheads! LOL, I guess we can all relate to his obsessive qualities. I prefer to think of it as "passion", as it sounds less like a disorder. ;-)

Lisa) I prefer to think of it as "passion", as it sounds less like a disorder. ;-) Oh my, but I do love that *disordered* feeling........

(Lisa)Hurrah for obsessive eggheads! CF did say he was a nerd... Makes me want to get out my MIT "Nerd Pride" badge. Such illustrious company! (Beedee)Oh my, but I do love that *disordered* feeling........ Well of course you would! ;-) We are in the asylum anyway.

(newbie Shoshana)Well of course you would! ;-) We are in the asylum anyway. Ok! Where's that winkie?;-) My meds for an ODB disorder is a glass or two of a lovely chilled chardonnay and a visit to the Drool doctors;-)

(Beedee)My meds for an ODB disorder is a glass or two of a lovely chilled chardonnay and a visit to the Drool doctors;-) Don't forget to take a 6-hour dose of Darcy along with your chardonnay for best possible results. It always works for me;-)

(Shoshana)CF did say he was a nerd... Makes me want to get out my MIT "Nerd Pride" badge. Such illustrious company! Can't understand why he says this. I've known a few nerds in my time, and CF doesn't remotely resemble any of them. He must know how attractive he is to women. He'd have to be crazy not to!!

Mari, thank you for the article. Very informative. I can only second (or third or whatever) has been said by the lovely ladies from the Asylum, and those "keeping up appereances" outsite ;-))

Thanks Mari for the really great article. He does frustration so well. This should be great. I read before where he really researches his parts and GWAPE is obviously no exception.

Hen)Don't forget to take a 6-hour dose of Darcy along with your chardonnay for best possible results. It always works for me;-) LOL, see my post on Darcy Drool;-) (Janet)Can't understand why he says this. I've known a few nerds in my time, and CF doesn't remotely resemble any of them. He must know how attractive he is to women. He'd have to be crazy not to!! Funny you should mention this but I read the nerd post earlier today and while making dinner my mind drifted back to it and I was ruminating on and was amused at how much that term has altered in meaning since my high school days! And ever such a long time ago that was:-0 Today (perhaps only in the US?) being a computer nerd for instance is a point of pride. The term has come up in the world as someone knowledgable and not an AV guy with baggy high water pants and white socks! Hey, that's fashionable now too! So's my curly hair.....you just have to live long enough!

Mari, great article, thanks so much. "It's a very visual book, and a very visual film," the writer says. "Griet does a lot of watching, and very little talking. Scarlett plays it perfectly." I hope someone talks...butI love "visual." I know where my vision will be focused for the first 5 viewings, at least!!!

(linda), I hope someone talks...butI love "visual." I can watch him nuzzle on BJ's neck over & over. ;-) And then there's "Colin Unplugged."

Baz Bamigboye �Daily Mail, 27 June 03 Mr Darcy lets us see his dark side Colin Firth leads me through the basement room. �The blood on there looks real, doesn�t it?� he says, pointing to the doors of what appears to be a body freezer in a morgue. �We�re in a morgue?� I ask. �It�s a morgue�but it�s not really�. In fact it�s a carefully cobwebbed, bloodsplattered set for his new film � a very different affair from his romantic lead role as Mark Darcy in Bridget Jones�s Diary. He stars with Mena Suvari (American Beauty and American Pie 2) in Trauma, a psychological chiller, which Marc Evans is directing for the aptly named Ministry of Fear film company. On this day, however, they�re shooting in the bowels of the old Midland Hotel by St Pancras station, London. Some of the cast and crew believe it�s haunted. The wife of Colin�s character, Ben, has been killed in a car crash: �My apartment is an old ward in an old hospital and this is supposed to be the morgue.� Although I know it�s only a movie, the place gives me the creeps. Colin tells me I should have been around the previous day when he had to handle a live tarantula ��not something you do every day at the office�. As Colin puts it, his character �is deeply traumatised and he has a problem recalling what his reality was before the car accident, so we see the world through his very confused eyes. �He lives alone in this flat and his world is very unsettling.� Colin thinks a little bit of fear is good for us. �If you spend your life wanting to keep everything light, you might end of a little bit twisted. I�d be suspicious of someone who is only ever laughing.� Mena (pictured here with Colin) plays a neighbour, who tries to help him. After all this darkness, Colin gets a bit of light relief with Renee Zellweger on the Bridget Jones sequel. Later in the year his films Girl With a Pearl Earring and Love Actually go on release. (Nice pic of a traumatised looking Ben, which I will scan later if nobody else can)

Thanks for the ineresting articles, Aishling and Mari. Colin tells me I should have been around the previous day when he had to handle a live tarantula The more I read about Trauma the less I believe I will like it ;-)

Thanks for the article, aishling. With the blood & spiders & weirdness, I don't think I'll have too much trouble getting the dh to go to this movie with me :) +++Colin tells me I should have been around the previous day when he had to handle a live tarantula+++ **giggle** Everytime I see a spider up on screen, I think of John Goodman busting in with spider poison! Colin's character is an arachnophobe!!!

(aishling)Colin tells me I should have been around the previous day when he had to handle a live tarantula Oh my, I do have a problem. I have always had a spider phobia, and although with treatment, it is manageable, I still don't think I could watch a film where ODB has to handle one. Let's hope it doesn't make the final edit, although I imagine that's unlikely!

Thanks, Aishling. Nice to see Baz covering Colin's work. I expect they should be wrapping up fairly soon, the eight weeks being over. Not too crazy about all the insects in this film either, but it is aimed at a whole different audience than his usual. If you can scan the pic, Aishling, send it to me at my "office." ;-D

Colin tells me I should have been around the previous day when he had to handle a live tarantula Taratulas, why'd it have to be tarantulas! (My ode to Indiana Jones) Thanks for the heads up. I can now plan for a strategic bathroom break.

(Karen) I expect they should be wrapping up fairly soon, the eight weeks being over. Somewhere in my readings, I thought I saw it wrapped last week.

Thanks for the article Aisling. The whole morgue thing brought to mind Edgar Allan Poe for some reason. (Nitae) The more I read about Trauma the less I believe I will like it The more I read about Trauma the more I believe I will like it: an unsettling, dark, twisted tale with bloody walls and creepy crawlers (enter Vincent Price: "for no mere mortal can resist the evil of the thriller, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha") A scary/scared Colin. Can hardly wait, he suffers so well! ;-D (Baz) Colin tells me I should have been around the previous day when he had to handle a live tarantula Can't you just see the little boy delight ODB had sharing this? :-)

Thanks, Aishling, for the latest on Trauma! I hope you all take this the right way, but it sounds as though Colin is finally doing a "guy appeal movie." Which, let's face it, usually has a better shot at getting distribution and decent box office. I see that 2 of his co-stars, Naomie Harris (Trauma) and Cillian Murphy (GWAPE) are in 28 Days Later, which opens here today and is getting some great reviews. Off to read *your* latest Hope Springs reviews on 177. Ouch!;-)

Thanks, Aishling for the informative article. Trauma looks like my kind of film...No bathroom breaks for me (sorry Dorine);-) Right up my vicolo.

Here's the Daily Mail pic, scanned by JennieT: Since Mena is wearing the raincoat again, I'm wondering if that day in the Waterloo Market was an "official" press day. Very possible.

I like the pic. Good ole Baz. Thanks to Jennie and Aishling. No navy blue suit in this one.

Thank you, Aishling! And Karen! (Colin),I know it�s only a movie, Oh to have this on a loup! LOL! Is all this pre-publicity good for the movie?

Aishling has sent me another scan of the pic, which I've put on the Trauma page: http://www.firth.com/trauma.html I probably should put up the *big* one too. ;-D

Aisling, JennieT, Karen, great job! Absolutely love the picture (sans Mena ;-)) Mr. Darcy lets us see his dark side LOL. "Come to the Dark Side, Darcy. We can rule the universe as father and son. NOOOOOoooo. Ben why didn't you tell me *sob*" ;-)

Because size does matter, from Aishling:

OMG, don't we need a Stubble Alert for this one? Thank you Karen, Aishling, and Jennie for this fabulous pic. More on this later, right now I'm too Traumatised.

Naomie Harris is the cover story on this week's Time Out NY magazine. The story is for the PR for 28 Days Later, but one little bit about Trauma.... Next up is a lead in another thriller, Trauma, which Harris calls an "ironic" choice. ("I don't like movies like that -- I get terrified," she says. This time she costars with Colin Firth and Mena Suvari. She's shooting the film in London, concurrently with a small role in The Thunderbirds, based on England's cult '60s TV show (the film, starring Bill Paxton, is set for a 2004 release). All the action has left Harris with few moments to ponder the prospect of stardom. "I had lunch with Mena Suvari the other day," Harris says. "She was saying how she's realized that no matter where she goes, she'll always be recognized.[Ed.--stifling the urge to make a snide remark]. I haven't thought about that. All I've thought about is, I love acting ---this is what I want to do. The thing is not to take it too seriously." Then she adds, "Of course, that's easy for me to say. It hasn't yet happened to me."

Good G*d! I love that photo in both sizes......but size does count! Thanks to all who made it possible!

"I had lunch with Mena Suvari the other day," Harris says. "She was saying how she's realized that no matter where she goes, she'll always be recognized.[Ed.--stifling the urge to make a snide remark]. I went to the premiere of her movie "Spun" in LA. And I was standing right next to her and did not recognize her. LOL! She looks different on person.

I wouldn't know Mena Suvari if she was on my windshield.

(Dorine) [Ed.--stifling the urge to make a snide remark]. (Moon) And I was standing right next to her and did not recognize her. (Evelyn) I wouldn't know Mena Suvari if she was on my windshield. ROTFL. I love this place. :-)

Thanks for the stubble fest. Size always counts around here!

(Evelyn)I wouldn't know Mena Suvari if she was on my windshield. Cause then she'd be dead?;-) Ok, ok I'm gonna stop with that now......

Colin tells me I should have been around the previous day when he had to handle a live tarantula � ODB and I have something in common! I, too, am a tarantula handler. It was years ago.....but I have held two in my lifetime. You have to be very careful with them....they look incredibly scary, but if you drop them...their teensy little legs call fall off! (Mari) I see that 2 of his co-stars, Naomie Harris (Trauma) and Cillian Murphy (GWAPE) are in 28 Days Later, which opens here today and is getting some great reviews. Same director (Danny Boyle) as Trainspotting/Shallow Grave. I'm actually going to go see this....who can pass up a zombie movie? ;-D And Tommy Flannagan is in Charlie's Angels Full Throttle..... (Dorine and Time Out Magazine) I had lunch with Mena Suvari the other day," Harris says. "She was saying how she's realized that no matter where she goes, she'll always be recognized. [Ed.--stifling the urge to make a snide remark]. Ohhh....don't stifle! I did a full belly laugh! Thanks Aishling for the article and for providing the pic....and thanks Karen for making ODB bigger....OMG! I cannot wait to see this! I'm not a horror film person (the zombie movie is a one off), but I did like The Sixth Sense and The Others....if it falls into that line....who am I kidding?? even if it doesn't.....I'll be a happy, traumatized camper. ODB looks amazing (I'm a stubble convert)!

Here 2 german reviews about WAGW ...Only the chemestry between Colin Firth , who plays the refined father of the cheeky brat, and Bynes keep the viewer still in the chair. Until the drippy Happy-End befalls the by all the prediction tired out audiance, only the charme of the two actores wake the unfulfilled hope of a bit more creativity and romantic surprise. With his patchwork of stolen ideas and tired gags he (the director) was able to catch brit-beau Colin Firth but keeps wearing the grey dress of an idealess cinema newcomer. With Kelly Preston, Jonathan Pryce, Colin Firth and Newcomer Amanda Bynes likeable casted , is director Donnie Gordons harmless version of the never disused Cinderella theme a fairytale, warm-hearted, of course predictable Teen-comedy like �the princess diaries� ,what Teenagers, also in this case, without a doubt will enjoy. Not very encouraging, I know, but I still think the movie can make it here. Anyway I hope my transaltion is correct.

but keeps wearing the grey dress of an idealess cinema newcomer. Is this a common expression in Germany? Thanks, Petra! I'm glad you git to see it. I wonder when it will playing in Italy? He always seems to do a press junket there. ;-) Does anyone have any information about the new Firth baby?

Maybe not a common expression, but known. I don�t know if there is an "english version" of it so I translated it word for word.I hope it is clear what they wanted to say (simply that the story is not new and without creativity).

(Petra)I hope it is clear what they wanted to say (simply that the story is not new and without creativity). Thanks Petra; I got the drift. And I concur, but it is still a charmer. The reviewer obviously didn't see "Joe Dirt" , the director's previous project or they would have applauded WAGW.

You did very well, Petra. Thanks for translating. It seems the critic has picked up on what works best in this film: the relationship between the two leads.

Petra, vielen dank for the translation! but keeps wearing the grey dress of an idealess cinema newcomer. I like this expression! And although it is a grey dress of a movie, the Cinderalla story has always worked for me! I loved WAGW....though it was a bit predictable, ODB did a great job as a man trying to figure out what it really means to be a dad. Thanks again Petra!!

Thanks for the translation, Petra. Not always easy to do. Hope you enjoy the movie. Crossing fingers the grey dress of an idealess cinema newcomer won't deter the German public from seeing this movie and enjoying the chemestry between Colin Firth , who plays the refined father of the cheeky brat, and Bynes (Karen) ...what works best in this film: the relationship between the two leads. Without question. It certainly wasn't the HD/Libby thing. Or the Cinderella/evil stepmother/sister thing. Or the evil politician thing. Or...

Oh my, loved the Trauma pics and article. Thanks Aishling and Jennie for sharing them with us, and Karen, for posting them ASAP. I'm not a horror film buff, but I'll happily make an exception, and cover my eyes when necessary.;-) I'm wondering if all of these creepy crawlies are supposed to be manifestations of his mind? Blech! Tress, just how do you know their little legs break off? Dorine, LOL, at the MS comment!

Thanks Karen, Aishling, and Jennie!! Always nice when one has to be without Drool for a few days to come back to a nice new stubblicious pic like that! Don;t think I've seen this interview before from the TIOBE junket. (But I can't turn up the volume here at work either! Grr!!) Reminds me of the "Lisa" tape in that he just seems to be talking (and looking very handsome in black..)11 minutes long and he is on for the first 6 and then it is OP... http://www.comingsoon.it/cs/interviste.asp Then search for his name

Maria, you come up with the best finds. I don't remember seeing this but if I did, it was great to see it again. As always, AFG. Thank you

(LisaJH) I'm wondering if all of these creepy crawlies are supposed to be manifestations of his mind? Blech! I was just thinking about this! I don't think tarantulas are native to England...my guess is that he's got something going on mentally....as I don't think you would just run into one in London. (LisaJH) Tress, just how do you know their little legs break off? Sad story involving a 'pet' and my father dropping her...from about 3 feet. Tarantulas have an exoskeleton...as well as very sensitive abdomens. Wasn't pretty. My guess is that ODB doesn't have particular allergies either as the hairs on their bellys can cause you irritation (it is a defense mechanism). ODB could have broken out in a rash if he handled her too long (or maybe they had something on his skin...).

New shoot date for TEOR is September. Will update more later.

(Tress)ODB could have broken out in a rash if he handled her too long (or maybe they had something on his skin...). Oooo, here I come with my Love Potion #9! Thanks Lola! Now what this we're hearing about John Travolta?;-) ducking

Thank you, Lola. September sounds great to me.

September filming of TEoR should leave ODB time to vacation in Italy after the new arrival, do publicity for GWAPE and LA, and leave him free for early 2004 for TDW. Capital, Capital.

News on HS!!! The release date is for the end of this year or the beginning of next year. The movie posters had been taken down and I asked for it only to be told that they are keeping it for when the movie is released.

(Lola) New shoot date for TEOR is September. (Moon) News on HS!!! The release date is for the end of this year or the beginning of next year. Now you're talking! Thank you both for the wonderful news.

With just those two options, I'm certainly hoping they choose next year. How sad if they bring it out with the holiday releases. It wouldn't stand a chance. Of course if you ask Karen, it doesn't stand a chance no matter when it's released! ;-D I guess I've officially delurked.

See Kathy, it wasn't as scary as you thought it would be. Welcome from another newbie to the Class of 2003. Glad you are here.

So Kathy, come on in. No need to enter through the back door.

(Moon) The release date is for the end of this year or the beginning of next year. I wonder if they are hoping to ride in on some of the GWAPE/LA publicity? If HS is as bad as some say...I almost wish it would come out on DVD (now) than wait until early next year for a theater release. Heresy....I know!!! Would like to see ODB concentrate on GWAPE promo stuff. I would just rather see it now (haven't had the ability to download it)...than wait until GWAPE gets released and have ODB deal with the bad/mediocre reviews for HS overshadowing the good (I am optimistic) reviews for GWAPE and LA. I'm ready to dodge the tomatoes!I suppose I'll go see it if it comes to the theater! ;-D And KathyLC!!

(Moon) only to be told that they are keeping it for when the movie is released. I'm not sure how authoritative the kid behind the concession stand is. *starting baseless rumors again* ;-D Remember, that end-of-year date was slapped on when they opted out of April. Meaningless. (Sonia) Of course if you ask Karen, it doesn't stand a chance no matter when it's released! ;-D And fortunately for you, no one asks me. ;-)

(Hola Lola)New shoot date for TEOR is September. Will update more later. This sounds great, and good timing too, what with his family committments.

(Moon) only to be told that they are keeping it for when the movie is released. (Karen), I'm not sure how authoritative the kid behind the concession stand is. *starting baseless rumors again* ;-D Knowing me Karen, do you really think I'd take a kid's word? I went to the manager in his office and he looked it up. At this point I don't really give a d... if HS opens here or not. It is that bad. He looks great in the poster, though, and that was my aim. Chuck it up to rumour if you wish. ;-)

I'd chalk it up to the mgr being issued out-of-date release.

(Moon)He looks great in the poster, though, and that was my aim. What a sad comment on the movie when the poster is the best part! Try asking the manager if you can put your name on the back of the poster so that you can have it after the movie has been and gone, assuming it gets a release. (I don't know if a movie theater would bother, but we used to have a nice little independent video store nearby that would let customers pre-claim posters and stuff.) (Hola Lola)New shoot date for TEOR is September. Will update more later. Thanks for the info. Am now off to light candles in hopes that he'll be filming in London while I'm there this fall. Welcome, Kathy LC!

Just got my DVD of the Advocate this afternoon. Interesting that the blurb on the back has been updated to show more recent credits for the stars: "Screen favorites Colin Firth (What a Girl Wants, Bridget Jones's Diary) and Ian Holm (The Lord of the Rings trilogy, From Hell) star in The Advocate... " I think the rest of the blurb is the same. Makes me wonder if this would have gone to DVD if its stars hadn't been in recent high-profile movies? (Karen, if I've posted this on the wrong board, please move it)

Kate, thanks for the DVD report! I assume it's really "The Advocate" and not HoTP? Sigh.

Kate)Just got my DVD of the Advocate this afternoon.. Rika)Kate, thanks for the DVD report! I assume it's really "The Advocate" and not HoTP? *I beg you to relieve my suffering* and tell me which version (or a new one) is in the very slow mail...

I hesitated to even post that I got the DVD because I couldn't watch it yesterday. It was my anniversary, and it seemed a little too pervy to watch Colin when I was supposed to be celebrating with my DH. It's the Advocate (same cover photo as on the VHS), not HoTP. It runs 102 min, so I don't think any scenes were added. I think the only extra is a Spanish language track. I might get a little time to have a sneak peak later this am. Will post an update if I do.

I see detention in his future... http://www.exchange-tower.com/newsletter/2002_12.pdf

LOL! Too bad you can't get a decently sized image. Wonder what he's doing sitting in a classroom. Isn't his character supposed to be a writer? Good find, Maria!

(Karen)what he's doing sitting in a classroom? I suppose he had to learn somewhere. But he does look bored.

I see detention in his future... Cute photo Maria! I'd love to keep him after school;-) (Karen)what he's doing sitting in a classroom? Must be remedial..... How to spot a good script 101?;-)

(Beedee) Must be remedial..... How to spot a good script 101?;-) *snort* Yeah, we know he failed first time around. Now, I remember, didn't the guy who saw a test screening say that Colin took Portuguese lessons?? I'm pretty sure that's what it is.

It's hard to tell because the picture is small, but doesn't he look really, really young? Or maybe it's just because he's sitting in a classroom. Anyway, thanks, Maria, for another great find!

(Maria) I see detention in his future... Ohhhh!!! I'd put him in detention....or if he needs a little extra help, study hall (okay, so I don't speak Portuguese, but we can work around that...maybe he could tutor me...).

(Tress)okay, so I don't speak Portuguese, Neither does he. LOL. I'll give him some private tutoring...however, come to think of it, I don't speak Portuguese, either;-)

Sorry to double...but it looks like everyone had tape recorders on their desks, as well. Probably was a language course.

(lindak)but it looks like everyone had tape recorders on their desks, as well. Probably was a language course. Yeah, at least thats what the women told the prop people it was for... ;-))

(Linda) I'll give him some private tutoring...however, come to think of it, I don't speak Portuguese, either;-) Forget the school work (seeing that we are all struggling with Portuguese)....maybe we can just get him to ditch class and meet us under the bleachers!! ;-D (Linda) but it looks like everyone had tape recorders on their desks, as well. Probably was a language course. I was wondering what that was! It looked like a hat to me (but I couldn't imagine...). My 'copy' is very pixelated. And what is around ODB's neck (or is that a shirt with a sweater over it)?....I'm telling ya...I can't see it that well!

Maria, I love it! (Beedee) Must be remedial..... How to spot a good script 101?;-) (Karen) *snort* Yeah, we know he failed first time around. Isn't that the truth. *sigh and no winkie* Geez, where were all the hunky guys when I took years of language courses, hmmmmmmm? ;-) (Most of them were geek city.)

(Beedee) Must be remedial..... How to spot a good script 101?;-) (Karen)*snort* Yeah, we know he failed first time around. Let's hope he paid attention and did all the assignments! And what is wrong with the women in this class? They're all looking off to one side or another, not at Colin. BTW, I did find time to check the two most important sequences of the Advocate. Nothing added. But there is the joy of slo-mo and freeze-frame. And the only extras on the DVD are trailers for TIOBE, TEP, and a movie with Sam Neill. I was really hoping for an outtakes extra. I had dreams of the director's commentary, "We couldn't use use that take in the theaters. Colin didn't have the timing right, he was supposed to pick up the sheet a little sooner before rolling over."

Kate, thanks for the info in the Advocate DVD. Nothing added. A shame. I suppose that I'll just have to be happy with my VHS of HotP without all the luxuries of DVD. But then again, there's not too much to be unhappy with in HotP (IMHO)! ;-)

According to Robair of the Amanda Bynes Now website, the London premiere of WAGW is Sunday, Aug 3rd, and not July 27th.

So, I am *currently* in posession of the newly released TA DVD. As already stated, it's not HOTPig but it does look gorgeous! Lovely Color, stubble, dimples (front and back), high boots and *repeat*! I can live with it;-)

French poster; the text: "she doesn't have their manners, but she rocks" The title translates as: What girls dream of. Another image... ignore if you've seen it before WAGW release in French theaters: July 23rd. No critics yet to be found when surfing, but production notes and trailer in French (forgive the dubbed voice; CF's is bad but AB's is worse IMHO) at the site where I found these pictures: http://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=51288.html

CF TV Schedule for the holiday weekend (all times are EST): Hostages will be on ThrillerMax (TMAXE) on July 5th at 4:45 am TIOBE will be on Starz 2 (STAR2) the whole weekend: July 4th at 10:05 pm; July 5th at 6:05 am, 2:05 pm and 10:05 pm; July 6th at 6:05 am, 2:05 pm and 10:05 pm Happy viewing!!

Great stuff Odile! Nice poster IMO. See, you can put them together without being pervy! Cute license plate. Love the hands in the second photo.

Thanks Odile! He looks as young as Oliver in the first one! and I'm with you Beedee, the hands in that grip...gah!!

Thank you Odile (and thanks for the translation)! I'm glad they have decided to change the poster for everyone! The US version wasn't very good (IMO).....much better to have Hunk Daddy visible. Also love the pic. That grip...those hands.....that 'power tie'! Yum! (Maria) He looks as young as Oliver in the first one! I agree! Good thing they kept him in the suit...if they had used the leather pants, then the pic may have been a bit too pervy! And again....my mum would have smacked my butt off the Rolls...."cars are for riding in, not for sitting on!"

Thanks Odile.... LOL. I see they denuded the poster from any flags. Smart thinking;-))) We're into 'globalization' here. But....my navy blue suit made it ! Woo Hoo! Hey...not many of you can boast that your keepsake made a wide-release poster!

(Tress)I agree! Good thing they kept him in the suit...if they had used the leather pants, then the pic may have been a bit too pervy! LOL! Hey, the last time we saw AB in that pose, wasn't she sitting on a gilded chair? Her picture gets around more than she does. I'm glad HD is on the poster, but this looks too much like a collage.